Meet Armstrong.

He is a Sumatran orangutan, one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.

He lives in the rainforests of the island of Sumatra, also home to tigers, elephants and rhinos. In fact, Sumatra is the only place on earth where all these magnificent species can be found living under the same forest canopy. If you haven't already watch the video now.

The bad news is that their precious home is being destroyed at an alarming rate. We need to act now to ensure that Armstrong and his friends don’t disappear forever.

Scroll down to find out about what we're doing to turn this situation around, and the many ways you can help.

Or share to help recover lost forest

Armstrong's forest habitat is being destroyed

There are several threats facing Sumatra's forests.

Palm Oil

Huge areas of rainforest are being replaced with rows and rows of a single type of tree – the oil palm. Palm oil is found in a huge range of products, from toothpaste to chocolate bars. Wildlife cannot survive in oil palm plantations.

Local farmers

In some areas, including inside national parks, farmers have cut into the forest to grow food. As well as being bad news for Armstrong and his friends, this can cause natural disasters such as landslides and flooding.

Fires

Although illegal, sometimes fire is used to clear land to grow crops, as this is cheaper than hiring bulldozers. The fires can quickly spread out of control, damaging forests and threatening wildlife, people and the climate.

Conflict with people

As their habitat shrinks, orangutans are forced into farmlands in search of enough food to survive. They can become stranded, unable to return to safe forests, and are at risk of poaching for the illegal pet trade and conflict with humans if they eat or damage their crops.

Our work

The Sumatran Orangutan Society works to protect orangutans, their forests and their future. We support frontline conservation programmes in and around the Leuser forests of northern Sumatra.

Restoring Armstrong’s habitat

We have already planted more than a million trees to replace some of the forests that have been lost. We need to increase these efforts to restore Armstrong’s home to its full glory, and ensure it is safe for a long time to come.

Community conservation

We work with the local people of Sumatra, empowering, educating and encouraging them to become guardians of their forests and wildlife.

Campaigning

Our campaigns target the root causes of deforestation, and shine a global spotlight on the breathtaking biodiversity in Sumatra’s last standing forests.

You can help

Help us restore lost forest

Help us save Armstrong by restoring and protecting his rainforest home.

Select damaged terrain from the map below to plant a tree, and then spread the word to support our work.

Or share to help recover lost forest

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1 Tree

£5

A sapling grows into a mighty tree, providing food and a nesting spot for orangutans and their friends.

5 Trees

£22

Plant a mixture of trees to help bring back the diverse natural rainforest ecosystem.

10 Trees

£40

Planting 10 trees will help attract birds and animals back to the area, which in turn help the forest recover.

1 Tonne of Compost

£50

Organic compost is vital to nourish and nurture the new saplings, ensuring they grow tall and strong.

Camera Trap

£250

Camera traps help us monitor wildlife returning, taking a picture every time an animal walks in front of them.

Field Station

£2000

Build a new field station and tree nursery, where the restoration team nurture young trees before they are planted.

This donation is a gift

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Your donation will help us protect and restore forests in Sumatra.

This donation is a gift

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I have read and accepted our Terms and conditions.I’d like to receive new updates from SOS so that I can keep up to date with how my donation is making a difference to rebuilding Armstrong’s home and keeping his forest family safe.I am a UK tax payer and this donation is eligible for Gift Aid

I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 that I gave up to 5 April 2008 and will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008.

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Not only have you just planted a tree to help restore damaged forests, but your donation will also help support our work to protect remaining orangutan habitat through community conservation, education and campaigning.